Canada has emerged as an appealing destination for tech workers looking for new opportunities, and a higher quality of life in today’s globalized environment. With a thriving tech sector, good work-life balance, and a rich cultural background, Canada presents an alluring opportunity for skilled technology professionals. This comprehensive guide will bring you through the necessary steps, requirements, and helpful insights on how to immigrate to Canada as a tech worker successfully.
The booming Canadian IT industry is driving up demand for qualified tech personnel. The Canadian government has designed a number of immigration channels to satisfy this demand, making Canada a popular choice for computer workers from throughout the world. We’ll look at the most popular options available to tech workers looking to come to Canada in this detailed guide.
Table of Contents
Why Immigrate to Canada as a Tech Worker
- Tech Job Opportunities: Tech workers are highly sought making it easier to secure jobs. There are job openings in various sectors such as software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, information systems specialists, programmers, and data analysts.
- Competitive Salaries: The demand for skilled professionals often leads to attractive compensation packages and benefits. Tech professionals can benefit from an average salary of $39 per hour and even more than that, together with other benefits.
- Canada also boasts a high quality of life, excellent healthcare, and a robust education system for your children.
Relocating to a new country is a significant decision, and Canada’s tech-friendly policies make it an ideal choice for tech professionals worldwide. Its booming tech industry has created a high demand for skilled professionals in the technology sector, making the Canadian government design a number of immigration pathways to satisfy this demand.
Popular pathways available to tech workers seeking to immigrate to Canada
1. Express Entry (EE) System
The Express Entry system streamlines the immigration process for skilled workers. Individuals working in the technology sector often excel in the Express Entry system. The latest annual report on Express Entry reveals that approximately one-third of all approved applicants belong to the tech industry. Moreover, four out of the top five occupations most frequently chosen for Invitations to Apply (ITAs) are in the field of technology.
EE is not an immigration pathway but an online management system for three immigration pathways: Canadian Experience Class Program (CEC) – ideal for tech workers with Canadian experience, Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – ideal for tech workers with no previous work experience in Canada and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – is ideal for trades people. In the Express Entry system, applicants must create an online profile, which is then assessed using Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Those with CRS scores surpassing the designated minimum score are extended invitations to apply for permanent residence.
Recently the Express Entry System introduced category-based draws specific for tech workers. These draws are meant to attract more professionals in STEM occupations to move to Canada on a permanent basis and help in filling the labour marker needs as well as improve the Canadian economy.
2. Provincial Nominee Programs for Foreign Tech Workers
Foreign tech professionals can apply for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program, which is available in every province in Canada. Some provinces directly ask Express Entry pool participants to apply for their PNP program.
Here are five popular PNPs for tech workers looking to come to Canada:
Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
The Alberta accelerated tech pathway, under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), allows tech workers to secure permanent residency who have a job offer in one of the 37 eligible tech occupations or with an employer in one of Alberta’s identified tech sectors. To be eligible for this pathway, candidates must also be eligible for AINP’s Express Entry Stream. This is because AINP is part of Alberta’s Express Entry Stream.
Through this program, candidates can avoid the lengthy LMIA process because the province of Alberta will issue a letter of support to successful candidates which can be used to apply for a work permit, and that can lead to permanent residency.
Alberta Tech Occupations
| OCCUPATION | CODE |
|---|---|
| Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services | 00012 |
| Human resources managers | 10011 |
| Advertising, marketing and public relations manager | 10022 |
| Telecommunication carriers manager | 10030 |
| Human resources professionals | 11200 |
| Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations | 11202 |
| Human resources and recruitment officers | 12101 |
| Engineering managers | 20010 |
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 |
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 |
| Data scientists | 21211 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 |
| Business system specialists | 21221 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 |
| Web designers | 21233 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 |
| Mechanical engineers | 21301 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 |
| Biological technologists and technicians | 22110 |
| Drafting technologists and technicians | 22212 |
| Computer network and web technicians | 22220 |
| User support technicians | 22221 |
| Information systems testing technicians | 22222 |
| Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 22301 |
| Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians | 22302 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Business development officers and market researchers and analysts | 41402 |
| Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts | 50011 |
| Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations | 51120 |
| Graphic designers and illustrators | 52120 |
| Corporate sales managers | 60010 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 |
| Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians | 72205 |
British Columbia Tech Stream
BC Tech stream under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) is available to certain tech workers who have job offers in one of the 29 prioritized job occupations. To be eligible, your job offer must be for at least one year and have at least 120 days remaining at the time of application to the BC PNP, and you must qualify to apply for at least one other BC immigration program since this stream works within other programs.
Like Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway, through this program, candidates can avoid the lengthy LMIA process since the province of BC will issue a letter of support to successful candidates which can be used to apply for a work permit.
BC Tech Occupations
| OCCUPATION | NOC |
|---|---|
| Telecommunication carriers managers | 10030 |
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 |
| Physicists and astronomers | 21100 |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 |
| Data scientists | 21211 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 |
| Web designers | 21233 |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 |
| Mechanical engineers | 21301 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 |
| Chemical engineers | 21320 |
| Other professional engineers | 21399 |
| Biological technologists and technicians | 22110 |
| Computer network and web technicians | 22220 |
| User support technicians | 22221 |
| Information systems testing technicians | 22222 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 |
| Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics | 22312 |
| Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts | 50011 |
| Authors and writers (except technical) | 51111 |
| Technical writers | 51112 |
| Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations | 51120 |
| Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts | 52119 |
| Broadcast technicians | 52112 |
| Audio and video recording technicians | 52113 |
| Graphic designers and illustrators | 52120 |
| Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators | 53111 |
Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Software engineers and designers;
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers;
- Computer engineers;
- Web designers and developers;
- Database analysts and data administrators; and
- Computer and information systems managers.
Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway
Saskatchewan invites skilled foreign tech workers who have a job offer in one of the 16 eligible job occupations to apply through the Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway. To be eligible a candidate first intend to live in Saskatchewan, have at least 1 year of high-skilled related work experience in the past five years in your intended eligible occupation, and must qualify to apply for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
Saskatchewan Tech Occupations
| NOC | OCCUPATION |
|---|---|
| 20012 | Computer and information systems managers |
| 21310 | Electrical and Electronics engineers |
| 21311 | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) |
| 21211 | Data Scientist |
| 21220 | Cybersecurity specialists |
| 21221 | Business system specialist |
| 21222 | Information System specialist |
| 21233 | Web designer |
| 21223 | Database analysts and data administrator |
| 21231 | Software engineers and designers |
| 21230 | Computer systems developers and programmers |
| 21232 | Software developers and programmers |
| 21234 | Web developers and programmers |
| 22220 | Computer network and web technicians |
| 22221 | User support technicians |
| 22222 | Information systems testing technicians |
Quebec Immigration
In April 2021, the Quebec government introduced an immigration pilot initiative benefiting specific tech professionals. This program enables foreign workers in designated tech fields to establish permanent residency in Quebec. The pilot initiative consists of two streams: artificial intelligence, and information technologies and visual effects. To be eligible applicants for both streams must be at least 18 years old, have the intention to reside and work in Quebec, adhere to the conditions of their Quebec permit, and exhibit financial self-sufficiency. Under each stream, there are two types of profiles: Francophone, and Francization. If an applicant applies through the Francophone profile, they must have an oral proficiency of 7 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants. If an applicant applies under the Francization profile, you will automatically get registered with the Integration service for immigrants under Accompagnement Québec. This measure is supposed to help support your French learning.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This program consists of two distinct sub-streams: one tailored for individuals who have completed their education at a Quebec college or university, and another designed for foreign-trained workers. The requirements for these two categories vary slightly. For instance, applicants in the Quebec graduate sub-stream must possess work experience and a job offer. In contrast, the foreign workers sub-stream may, in certain cases, not necessitate a job offer if they have sufficient work experience in Quebec. However, both sub-streams require that applicants hold educational qualifications equivalent to at least a Quebec bachelor’s degree.
Information Technology (IT) and Visual Effects
This stream targets workers who have experience in one of 10 eligible occupations. Eligible candidates must have a minimum of two years of work experience in the relevant field within the past decade. To qualify for this stream, applicants must either be currently employed in their field in Quebec or possess a job offer. Additionally, candidates must have completed education equivalent to a Quebec diploma of technical training or a Quebec bachelor’s degree.
To be eligible for this stream, applicants need to have work experience in one of the following tech occupations:
| OCCUPATION | NOC |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Manager* | 0213 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineer | 2133 |
| Informations Systems Analyst and Consultant* | 2171 |
| Software Engineer and Designer* | 2173 |
| Computer Programmer and Interactive Media Developer* | 2174 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologist and Technician | 2241 |
| Computer Network Technicians | 2281 |
| Audio and Video Recording Technician , but only if your job is in the visual effects sector* | 5225 |
| Graphic Designer and Illustrator , but only if your job is in the visual effects sector* | 5241 |
| Producer, Director, Choreographer and Related Occupations , but only if your job is in the visual effects sector | 5131 |
*Note that video games are included in the term Information Technology.
